Across the nation.

Close Race In Democratic Primary

June 04, 1997|By From Tribune News Services.

TRENTON, NEW JERSEY — With more than half of the ballots counted, U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews held a slight lead over state Sen. Jim McGreevey on Tuesday as state Democrats selected a nominee to challenge popular Gov. Christine Todd Whitman.

Andrews had 39 percent of the vote to 37 percent for McGreevey, with 60 percent of the vote counted. Former prosecutor Michael Murphy was third with a little more than 20 percent.

Supporters anxiously tried to figure out which way the counties that had not yet reported would break.

McGreevey's supporters who gathered at a hotel in Woodbridge -- where he is also the mayor -- conceded that Murphy had taken votes away. But they hoped to rebound with strong returns from northern counties.

Democratic leaders had hoped to avoid a primary fight and concentrate on preparing to take on Whitman in the fall. But Andrews and McGreevey, both 39, split the endorsements of county Democratic organizations.